Improved mode of attaching the sides of sheet metal to each other



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER H N ILES, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR TO HTMSELF AND AUGUSTUS RUSS, OFCAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IIVIPROVED MODE 0F ATTACHING THE SIDES 0F SHEET METAL TO EACH OTHER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 55,016, dated May 22,1866.

, ing a part of this specification.

To enable others skilled in theart to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the construction ofthe joints of cans, boxes, hoops, pipes,-andyother utensils made of sheet metal, it is Very desirable to dispensewith the operation of soldering the seams or joints, which now requiresa stove or heating apparatus, fuel, solderilig-coppers, a proper iluX,solder, Snc., and the manipulations of a skilled mechanic. In myinvention these are dispensed with by the substitution of a lock orrivet-joint made by cutting and stamping the sheet metal in a peculiarform, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents the piece of sheetmetal composing the body ofthe can cut and stamped ready to be formed, brepresenting the lips which are formed of the lower half of a circleandare struck inward, and c representing the lips which are formed ofthe upper halt' ot' a circle and are struck outward. Fig. 2 shows theouter surface of the joint a as formed. Fig. 3 shows the inner surfaceof the joint c when formed.

I stamp the edges or margin ot' the metal to forni the body of the canor box with semicircular vertical lips b and c, Fig. 1, forming,respectively, the upper, c, and lower, b, halt' of opposite circles,which are struck through the metal, one of the lips projecting slightlyinward and the other suficiently outward to admit one lip to slide underand the other over its opposite. I then interlace the lips b and cclosely, and by compression interlock them substantially, and thus formthe rivet-joint a, Figs. 2 and 3, which closely resemble a flush rivet.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The lips b and c, interlocked so as to form the rivet-joint a,substantially and for the uses and purposes above described.

P. H. NILES.

Witnesses:

J. M. F. HOWARD, M. H. DURGIN.

